Lab 8 Learning Objectives

• Prepare a simple R package for distributing documented functions

• Explain the terms Repository, Dependency, and Namespace

• Implement testing in an R package

• Collaboratively work on an R package on GitHub

What is an R package?

• A shareable collection of documented code and/or data

The package you built

Group assignment

• Make an R package that simulate (more or less) the central dogma of molecular biology.
• Discuss why it is a good idea to limit the number of dependencies your package has. When can’t it be avoided?
• Discuss the difference between adding an @importFrom package function tag to a function description compared to using package::function().
• Write a vignette (user guide)

Package names

• centralDogma / Centraldog / cdogma
• Cdogr
• BioFlow
• gene2protein
• biocd
• dogmaVis
• dogmaXX
• groupXX

Dependencies

• They increase the size of our package.

• Can introduce compatibility issues.

• They are nearly unavoidable.

Namespace

• Extent your package’s namespace with dependency imports
  • @importFrom package function and @import package
  • What is actually the difference?
• package::function…
  • clutters the code…
  • and can be tiresome if used heavily…
  • but ensure better understanding.